The Southeast U.S. chapter of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Inc. recently held its 94th Finnish Independence Day Gala at The Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga., USA. The gala was sponsored by Metso, Andritz, Kemira, Nokia, Tekla, ADI Marketing, and Smith, Gambrell and Russell LLP.

Guests were entertained by members of Moving in the Spirit, a nonprofit dance company based in Atlanta, Ga., that was awarded the 2011 Managing for Excellence Award by the Community Foundation for greater Atlanta. The award is given to organizations that exhibit outstanding nonprofit management. Moving in the Spirit uses dance to help transform the lives of children and teens in Atlanta. More information about Moving in the Spirit is available online.

The Finnish American Chamber of Commerce announced Georgia State's "Aurora in April: Finnish Music in Atlanta" to be performed this April 17 and 19. These performances, which are free and open to the public, will feature internationally recognized Finnish musicians, including Johann Tilli, Timo Paavali Kotilainen, and Harri Wessman. Georgia State University is hosting the events to show its commitment to internationalizing the campus and the community.

More information about the program is available online, as is more information about The Southeast chapter of the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Inc.

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As a challenge to today's digital world, Iggesund Paperboard, a member of Sweden's Holmen Group, has launched an oversized wall calendar made entirely of its Invercote paperboard. One hundred copies of the exclusive calendar, which measures 60 x 86 cm, were printed and handmade, of which only two copies now remain.

The calendar was delivered to a select group of graphic and packaging enthusiasts around the world who regularly use Invercote to capture the emotional side of their top-end packaged goods.

The calendar, which showcases high-end printing, foiling, die-cutting, and creasing techniques, consists of a series of striking photos of women. "It's a very exclusive calendar that's not just a regular calendar, it's a masterpiece as well", says Björn Kvick, president of Iggesund Paperboard.

Nine of the 12 featured images were shot by Raya Meerzoumen, a New York-based fashion photographer, while the remaining three images were taken by Tobias Regell/Camera Link, Stockholm, Sweden.

All proceeds from the auction sale will go to UNICEF Sweden and its work with children in need. KPMG Sweden, the local office of the international auditing group, will attest that the funds are received and allocated properly.

More details about the auction are available online.

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The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Washington, D.C., USA, coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system, and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), Latham, N.Y., this week invited certificate-awarding entities that develop and administer energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to apply for participation in a pilot accreditation program. Successful participants will be awarded accreditation under a program designed to provide quality assurance to the programs.

Assessment to this new standard will also provide third-party verification to students, funders, policymakers, and others that certificate programs have demonstrated meeting the requirements for issuing a market-valued certificate.

Certificate programs will be evaluated against the draft IREC Standard 14732: 2012, General Requirements for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Certificate Programs. The standard describes curriculum, administrative, personnel, facilities, and equipment requirements for certificate programs involved in the training of the energy efficiency/weatherization and renewable energy workforce.

ANSI and IREC will follow the evaluation process outlined in the international standard ISO/IEC 17011, General Requirements for Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies. This process includes using specially trained assessors to review documents submitted by applicants against defined requirements, conduct on-site assessments of all applicants, and make recommendations to the body responsible for making the accreditation decision.

Organizations interested in pursuing accreditation during the pilot should complete the pilot program application, now available on the ANSI-IREC program page on the ANSI website. Applications will be accepted until January 17. Pilot participants will be selected based on a review of documentation demonstrating conformance with the published pilot criteria, at the sole discretion of ANSI and IREC.

For more information, contact ANSI's Diana Singhavong (DSinghavong@ansi.org) or IREC's Pat Fox (patfox@irecusa.org).

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Below is the latest listing of job openings in the TAPPI Career Center. The current listing includes a variety of maintenance specialist positions as well as a pulp and paper internship, safety manager, and executive director of a paper industry association. Current, specific job openings at companies and locations in the TAPPI Career Center include:

Employer	Title	Location
Catalyst Paper	Maintenance Supervisor – E&I	British Columbia, Canada
Catalyst Paper	Maintenance Engineer – Mech.	British Columbia, Canada
Catalyst Paper	Maintenance Supervisor – Mech.	British Columbia, Canada
Catalyst Pape	Maintenance Planners	British Columbia, Canada
GL&V USA INC.	Pulp and Paper Internship	Nashua, N.H.
Land O Lakes	Sr. Process Engineer	Hampton, Iowa
Pratt Paper	Paper Mill Process Engineer	Shreveport, La.
Rayonier Inc.	Production Engineer, Utilities	Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Recyc. Paperbd. Tech. Assn	Executive Director	Work from home
RockTenn	Safety Manager	West Point, Va.

More information about these jobs is available online.

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The majority of Canadian forest and paper products companies posted lower third quarter earnings compared with the same period in 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). The results reflect weak lumber demand, sagging pulp prices, and a strong Canadian dollar.

The struggling U.S. economy and housing market, in addition to slowing demand from China, negatively impacted the lumber and solid wood segment of the industry, PwC notes. Northern bleached softwood kraft (NSBK) pulp prices remained strong in the third quarter, however pulp prices continue to come off of the record high levels reached earlier this year. The relative weakening of the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar in the quarter provided some support to earnings.

Forest and paper companies in Western Canada reported net losses totaling C$234.2 million for the quarter, significantly below the C$178.8 million profit reported for the same period in 2010. Catalyst Paper Corp. reported a net loss for the quarter of C$205.7 million, which includes C$150.6 million of impairment costs incurred relating to its Snowflake, Ariz., USA, mill.

Eastern Canadian based companies posted net earnings of C$31.9 million compared with net losses of C$650.3 million for the third quarter of 2010. Domtar Corp. reported net earnings of C$114.7 million, down from C$198.5 million in the third quarter of 2010. AbitibiBowater's 2010 results include C$759.6 million (U.S. $731 million) in charges as a result of its recent restructuring.

Ten of the largest U.S.-based forest and paper companies reported net earnings of $1,407.6 million for the third quarter, down from $2,372.9 million in the third quarter of 2010. Comparability of results is impacted by several factors including restructuring charges and impairment/sales adjustments for International Paper (total 2011 Q3 gain of $116 million), Kimberly-Clark's third quarter pulp and tissue restructuring costs ($95 million), a reversal of deferred taxes by Weyerhaeuser in 2010 ($1.043 billion), a 2010 loss from discontinued operations ($124 million) for MeadWestvaco, a 2010 tax credit reversal recorded for Packaging Corp. of America, and a $96.3 million goodwill impairment charge recorded by Graphic Packaging in 2011. On September 6, IP announced it had reached a deal to acquire Temple Inland for $32 per share in cash.

Ten of the largest European based forest and paper companies reported overall losses of EUR 122.5 million for the third quarter, down from EUR 743.9 million in profit for the third quarter of 2010. Norske Skog reported a net loss of EUR 236.9 million in the third quarter, which included impairment charges of EUR 241.3 million. UPM-Kymmene's reported loss of EUR 109.0 million includes EUR 290 million in restructuring charges. On August 1, UPM-Kymmene completed the acquisition of Myllykoski Corp. and Rhein Papier GmbH.

Five of the largest forest and paper companies in Japan posted net earnings of $2.3 million for the six months ended September 30, down from $634.0 million for the same period in 2010. Results from a number of companies operating in Japan continue to reflect the disruption to operations from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Nippon Paper's September 30 loss of $494.0 million includes $367.9 million extraordinary losses related to the direct impact of the disaster on one of its mills.

Four of the largest forest and paper companies in emerging markets reported net losses of $618.0 million in the third quarter, compared with net earnings of $710.8 million in the third quarter of 2010. Included in Fibria Celulose's reported loss of $681.5 million is a foreign exchange loss of $792.9 million, which is attributed to the appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Brazilian Real and its impact on Fibria's U.S. dollar denominated debt.

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U.S. pulp and paper industry consumption of recovered paper in November 2011 was 2.4 million tons, 5% lower than November of last year, and 5% lower than October 2011, according to the AF&PA, Washington, D.C., USA. Decreases compared with October were observed across all grades of recovered paper, with corrugated consumption entering its third straight month of decline, and mixed consumption dropping 5% despite holding relatively steady over the past four months.

Overall, year-to-date consumption of total recovered paper compared with the same period in 2010 has also decreased by 5%. Inventories, on the other hand, reached their highest point for 2011, bringing days of supply up one day to 11 days.

U.S. exports of recovered paper rebounded 4% in October after a drop in September, with the biggest increase by volume surprisingly in mixed grades. Year-to-date exports in 2011 continue to be 14% higher than last year by volume. Imports, despite being relatively inconsequential in U.S. recovered paper trade, are 29% higher year-over-year.

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"We're surprised," says Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank, explaining that domestic U.S. containerboard prices remained unchanged at $635 - $645/ton in December. November box data, he notes, were a bit better than YTD trends.

Wilde also points out that export prices to high beta markets (S. Europe, Middle East) are weak and continue falling. "While domestic prices appear relatively stable, we expect increased price pressure in the first half of this year," he says.

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November pulp shipments from the PPPC show continued weakness in the industrial nations, Wilde reports, adding that this was offset by strong Chinese shipments. "Trade contacts suggest the uptick was partly driven by opportunistic Chinese purchases as well as delayed shipments from prior periods. We think November figures don't do much to support current attempts by Fibria, Arauco, and Stora Enso to boost pulp prices. We remain cautious. December North American NBSK was down $30/metric ton m/m to $890/metric ton," Wilde explains.

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A two-year run-up in U.S. kraft paper prices is over, Wilde proclaims, noting that kraft paper markets have weakened and prices are falling. Trade papers are reporting a $30/ton decline in estimated extensible sack kraft prices (December = $1,120 - $1,140/ton) with a possibility of further declines in January, he notes. Grocery bag prices, he adds, were down $30/ton m/m. The key issue is weakness in Europe and its ripple effect on domestic supply/demand balance.

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Demand for U.S. coated groundwood papers is weak and prices are under pressure, according to Wilde. Estimated prices on No. 5, 40-lb offset rolls fell $30/ton to $875 - $915/ton in December, he says, noting that according to PPPC, November shipments were down 6.3% y/y (YTD -7.3% y/y). Mills operated at 91% capacity in November. Some reports suggest producers are making SC paper on coated machines. Citing "demand headwinds" and rising inputs, Verso recently announced the shutdown of 90,000 tpy PM No. 2 at Bucksport, Maine, mill.

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Daio Paper Corp., Japan, has contracted Metso of Finland to rebuild the hardwood kraft fiber line at its Mishima mill on Shikuko island, Japan. Startup of the rebuilt line is scheduled for the end of this year. The value of the order was not disclosed.

Metso will supply main equipment for the rebuild of the Mishima mill's fiber line. "Replacing old machinery of low availability and high maintenance costs with Metso's state-of-the-art machinery will boost production capacity of the fiber line to 1,700 air-dried metric tpd of bleached hardwood kraft pulp," said Håkan Öhlen, sales manager, Metso.

Metso's scope of delivery will include a new screening room, an oxygen delignification stage, and five latest-generation TwinRoll Evolution wash presses. Two of the presses will be installed as brown stock washers, two as post-oxygen washers, and one as a D-stage washer.

Daio Paper primarily produces newsprint, printing paper, paperboard, wrapping paper, linerboard, packaging, and sanitation products such as tissue paper, cardboard, and pulp. The company, formed in 1943, operates 38 consolidated subsidiaries and has an annual mill capacity of more than 3 million metric tons.

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U.K.-based DS Smith Plc, a producer of recycled paper and corrugated packaging, this week announced that Peter Johnson has decided to step down as chairman and resign from the company's board of directors. Johnson joined the board of DS Smith Plc as a non-executive director in 1999 and became chairman in 2007. The board had for some time been planning for his retirement during 2012.

Gareth Davis, who has been acting chairman since October 2011 and has been a non-executive director of DS Smith since June 2010, will become chairman of the board and of the Nominations Committee, effective immediately. Davis was previously group chief executive of Imperial Tobacco PLC and is chairman of both Wolseley plc and William Hill PLC.

Chris Bunker, senior non-executive director of DS Smith, noted that "on behalf of the board and the company, I would like to thank Peter for his immeasurable contribution to DS Smith. He has led the business through a period of transformation, and the business is in an excellent position to grow and develop further as a result. The board is delighted that Gareth has agreed to succeed him as chairman and lead the company through this next exciting stage of growth."

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Metso Paper Oy has sold its Valkeakoski, Finland-based workshop and related equipment and screen basket manufacturing to MSP Engineering Oy and Hanlog Oy. The value of the deal (a transfer of undertaking) will not be disclosed. Metso says the deal will have no significant impact on its results.

Personnel of the operations being sold, 76 people in all, are transferring to the new employer as existing employees. A total of more than 300 people are employed at Metso's entire Valkeakoski unit.

The deal includes the workshop and maintenance hall real estate, the related manufacturing machinery and equipment, the related office premises, and the areas of land associated with the operations being sold. The buyer will continue as a contract manufacturer for Metso.

The sale is part of Metso's Pulp, Paper, and Power segment's work to develop its production structure to improve customer service amid the toughening global competition, the company notes.

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M-real Corp., part of Metsäliitto Group, Finland, reports that it concluded statutory negotiations at its Äänekoski mill in Finland, and has now closed the mill's paper machine, which has a capacity of some 200 000 metric tpy of coated fine paper. To improve the profitability of its coated paper business, M-real started the statutory negotiations on November 9 regarding closure of the machine and conversion of the mill's sheeting capacity entirely to folding boxboard sheeting. The company released a stock exchange bulletin on November 2 concerning these plans.

Following closure of the machine at Äänekoski at the end of 2011, the mill's sheeting capacity will be converted fully to folding boxboard. Planning work related to the sheeting capacity conversion is on-going, the company notes..

Related to the closure, personnel reductions at the Äänekoski mill will total a maximum of 169 people. In close cooperation with local authorities, M-real says it will assist redundant employees to find new employment. In addition, M-real will also facilitate redeployment, if possible, by offering employment opportunities internally within the company or other Metsäliitto Group's business areas.

M-real continues to produce coated papers at the Husum mill in Sweden, and the Äänekoski paper machine's reel production will be transferred to Husum. The annual coated paper capacity at Husum will be increased from 285 000 metric to 340 000 metric tons during this year.

Also in the future, M-real's coated papers will be sold by Sappi Fine Paper Europe. Based on the above measures, M-real's annual coated paper capacity is reduced by approximately 145 000 metric tons. M-real's annual sales will reduce by approximately EUR 60 million and the operating result will increase by approximately EUR 20 million based on the results of the coated paper production in 1Q – 3Q 2011. The full annual financial impact of the measures is expected to materialize from 2012 onwards.

Consumer Packaging's 4Q 2011 operating result includes approximately EUR 25 million non-recurring impairments and cost provisions related to the measures at Äänekoski. Total net cash impact of the measures is expected to be slightly positive when taken into account the reduction of working capital.

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SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, reported this week that it has completed forming the previously announced joint venture partnership with the Australian company Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) that involves SCA's existing operations in Australasia. SCA and PEP Fund IV will each hold 50% of the new JV company. Finalization of the transaction follows approval by the relevant authorities.

SCA's operations in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji employ about 1,500 people. In 2010, this business had net sales of SEK 4,400 million, with some 70% related to tissue and some 30% related to personal care products. In the region, SCA manufactures and markets several brands including TENA, Tork, Sorbent, Purex, Libra, Treasures, Deeko, and Handee Ultra.

"This deal strengthens our operations in Australia and New Zealand, and it secures our access to local competence and the local capital market. This enables a faster development of the operations," Jan Johansson, president and CEO of SCA, had stated earlier.

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Södra, Sweden, reports that its executive committee has set an appropriation limit that will permit a number of offensive investments in 2012. Group President Leif Brodén, noted that "in addition to earlier decisions concerning our participation in the development of wind power in 2012, we have now decided on an appropriation limit of SEK 1,895 million.

"This will permit a number of offensive investments to be made. We intend to continue investing in product improvements, but first and foremost we now perceive opportunities for further investments in bioenergy. We are taking into account an investment in Lignoboost at Södra Cell Mörrum that will involve a potential investment in new biomaterials in the future, as well as make the mill fossil fuel-free. We envision an investment in a new lime kiln at Värö, and even more pellet production capacity. It is important for us to make the most of the business opportunities available to us in bioenergy when our traditional products are finding things considerably more difficult."

The company adds that its budget also allows for another investment in textile (dissolving) pulp. Its plan is to convert another pulp line to the production of textile pulp.

"Hopefully we will have time to identify which of our lines is most suitable prior to the fourth quarter of 2012. Textile pulp offers major benefits in terms of quality, sustainability, and ecology, and we believe we will see good growth in years to come. Production of textile pulp will be commencing at Södra Cell Mörrum this month."

The company's forecast results for 2011 indicate an operating profit of almost SEK 1 billion and a return of 10% on capital employed. "We are seeing a similar result level in our budget for 2012, with uncertain environmental factors," Brodén concluded.

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Stora Enso Corp. Helsinki, Finland, has engaged Metso of Finland to handle the single-drum recovery boiler conversion at its Imatra Mills. The recovery boiler was built in 1987 and its current capacity is about 1,700 metric tpd of dry solids. The conversion project will be completed this fall. Total value of the order was not disclosed.

The upper and lower drum of the recovery boiler and the steam generating bank between them will be replaced by a new drum and separate boiler bank elements needed for heat recovery. At the same time, the second stage of the economizer will be rebuilt.

"The conversion will significantly extend the boiler's lifetime and allow for a possible capacity increase in the future. In addition, the conversion will improve the boiler's availability, secure safe operation, and reduce maintenance costs. Further advantages offered by a single-drum conversion compared with replacing the existing design are a shorter downtime and the reliability of the solution," said Jouni Koskinen, sales manager, Boiler Conversions, Metso.

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Atlas Holdings LLC, Stamford, Conn., USA, this week closed an agreement with International Paper, Memphis, Tenn., to combine the two companies' consumer-packaging solutions businesses. As a result, AGI World and Shorewood Packaging have become AGI-Shorewood, one of the world's largest specialty packaging businesses with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

All locations of Shorewood Packaging except those in China are now a part of the new AGI-Shorewood. Closing of the Chinese portion of the transaction will occur later this month upon the transfer of certain governmental licenses and registrations.

With the transaction and following the closing on Shorewood's Packaging's Chinese businesses later this month, AGI-Shorewood will employ nearly 4,000 people worldwide, operating 24 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It maintains eight creative services offices in the U.S., U.K., France, and Australia. Atlas owns 100% of the combined AGI-Shorewood business in the U.S. and 60% of the combined AGI-Shorewood business outside of the U.S. IP owns 40% of the combined AGI-Shorewood business outside of the U.S.

Mike Ukropina, who served as president of Shorewood Packaging until his appointment as president and CEO of AGI-Shorewood, leads an experienced executive team that includes: Mark Caines, formerly CEO of AGI North America, as CEO of AGI-Shorewood North America; Tony Garnish, formerly CEO of AGI Europe, as CEO of AGI-Shorewood Europe; Lucy Tzou, formerly GM of Shorewood Packaging and IP Foodservice Asia, as CEO of AGI-Shorewood Global Gravure and Asia; and Don Eldert, formerly CFO of Atlas Material Holding Corp., as EVP and CFO of AGI-Shorewood.

AGI-Shorewood also announced plans for a major expansion of its operation in Guangzhou, China, following the closing of Shorewood's Chinese businesses later this month. The company will invest $7 million in the plant, including a Heidelberg CX 102 8+L UV lithograph printing press that is also capable of printing with conventional inks and water-based coatings.

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Graphic Packaging International Inc. (GPI), a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Co., one of the world's largest paperboard packaging companies, announced that this month it is relocating its corporate headquarters from Marietta, Ga., USA, to Sandy Springs, Ga., in the RiverEdge Summit complex. The new headquarters will enable the company to consolidate its existing four building campus into a single location.

Relocating to the new complex will be the executive team, corporate staff, North American operational headquarters, Product Development Center, and Global Innovation Center. "The consolidation of our workforce will enhance the impact of our 'one culture' message, which makes the Sandy Springs office complex an excellent location for a major corporate headquarters," said David Scheible, president and CEO.

GPI operates eight paper mills, 33 folding carton converting facilities, 19 flexible packaging facilities, and three machinery manufacturing facilities worldwide. It provides paperboard and integrated paperboard solutions to the beverage, food, and other consumer products industries. The company employs approximately 13,000 people worldwide, with more than 1,600 of those based in Georgia.

GPI's investment in Georgia extends beyond the number of individuals employed by the company. Last year, GPI announced plans to expand utilization of biomass energy in its paperboard mill located in Macon, Ga. The nearly $80 million project, once completed, will make the Macon mill self-sufficient from an electrical power and steam generation standpoint, thereby stabilizing and reducing energy costs and dependency on fossil-fuel based alternatives.

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Orient Paper Inc., Baoding, Hebei, China, reports that it recently completed all testing operations and launched commercial production of its new corrugating medium paper production line. The company also has developed a video of the new 360,000 metric tpy corrugating medium paper production line that can be viewed online.

The video includes footage on sourcing of key raw materials, its pulping procedure, power supply system, and operation of the new production line. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at Orient Paper's new facility and its advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Zhenyong Liu, chairman and CEO of Orient Paper, noted that "the production launch of our new corrugating medium paper production line marks an important milestone for Orient Paper. We believe with the additional production capacity, we are set to expand our market share, revenue, and net income growth in fiscal year 2012 and beyond."

Orient Paper, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Shengde Holdings Inc., controls and operates Baoding Shengde Paper Co. and Hebei Baoding Orient Paper Milling Co. (HBOP). Founded in 1996, HBOP produces and distributes products such as corrugating medium, offset printing paper, and other paper and packaging-related products in China. The company uses recycled paper as its primary raw material. Baoding Shengde, founded in June 2009, produces and distributes digital photo paper. As one of the largest paper producers in Hebei Province, HBOP is strategically located in Baoding, a city in close proximity to Beijing where the majority of publishing houses are based.

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Stora Enso, Helsinki, Finland, has signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a EUR 150 million loan to be used for a new containerboard machine project at its Ostrołęka Mill in Poland. The loan matures in 2023.

Main items for the Ostrołęka project have been procured and construction work is progressing as planned, the company noted. The EUR 285 million containerboard machine at Ostrołęka is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2013.

"The investment at Ostrołęka will strengthen our competitive position in corrugated packaging in the growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe, and is one more step in building sustainable and profitable growth for the Group. The new containerboard machine, with a modern product and greater capacity than the machine it replaces, will not only renew our product offering, it will also improve our overall cost position through efficient internal supply of lightweight containerboard made from recycled fiber," said Mats Nordlander, EVP, Packaging Business Area.

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DuPont Titanium Technologies, Wilmington, Del., USA, this week (effective January 1) increased the price for its Ti‑Pure® titanium dioxide sold in North America (U.S, and Canada) into coatings, plastics, laminates, and specialty applications by $0.15/lb, or as permitted by contract. The increase is in addition to any previously announced price increases for North America.

DuPont Titanium Technologies operates plants at DeLisle, Miss.; New Johnsonville, Tenn.; Edge Moor, Del.; Altamira, Mexico; and Kuan Yin, Taiwan, all of which use the chloride manufacturing process. The company also operates a mine in Starke, Fla.

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Stora Enso, Finland, reportedly has increased its price for NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp in Europe and China to $850/metric ton and $670/metric ton, respectively. The price hikes became effective with deliveries beginning this month.

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Tronox Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla., USA, has announced a price increase for all of its TRONOX® titanium dioxide grades. Effective January 1, or as contracts allow, the company's price for titanium dioxide in North America was increased by $0.15 per pound.

The increase is in addition to those previously announced. Other increases may be announced locally within each region, the company notes.

Tronox operates plants in the U.S., Australia, and the Netherlands, supplying pigments to some 1,000 customers in 90 countries. In addition, the company produces electrolytic products, including sodium chlorate, electrolytic manganese dioxide, boron trichloride, elemental boron, and lithium manganese oxide.

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There is still time to register for t the upcoming 2012 TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit, January 15-17 in Kingsport, Tennessee, students will have the rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with industry leaders and gain valuable information on employment opportunities and career development within the industry.

New to the Student Summit for 2012, Students can bring their resume and practice interviewing with industry veterans and mentors during the TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit at a special Mock Interview session on Saturday, January 14.

While actual interviews with more than a dozen leading industry companies will take place on Sunday, January 15, this Mock Interview Session is an excellent chance for them to sharpen their skills beforehand, get some great pointers, update their resume, and become more adept at interviewing.

They'll be able to meet face-to-face for a five to ten minute interview and have their resume critiqued on the spot.

In addition, resumes can also be submitted and a prize drawing will take place during the event In addition, this year's event includes mock interviews, area mill tour, actual recruitment interviews, and an engineering competition.

Learn more about the TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit.

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Mark Your Calendar for PaperCon 2012

April 22-25, 2012 in New Orleans

Designed by industry professionals, PaperCon brings together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. No other event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities and exhibit among such a distinguished group of industry leaders.

For 2012, PaperCon is about "Growing the Future", leveraging renewable, recyclable raw materials and developing human capital to ensure value for customers, long-term sustainability for shareholders, and a future for our peers. Located in the heart of the Southern USA pulp and papermaking region, New Orleans, PaperCon sessions will highlight today's dynamic packaging grades.

New this year:

• Control Systems 2012: Open to PaperCon attendees, this is the first US appearance for this highly-respected bi-annual conference.
• RPTA Production-Technical Seminar: Addresses the unique technical challenges and market dynamics of recycled paperboard manufacturing, making this a comprehensive conference for paperboard, linerboard, containerboard and packaging grade mills.
• Sustainability Forum: A fresh look at the "Science Behind Sustainability".
• OpEx Reliability Seminar: A two-day seminar designed for mill maintenance and reliability supervisors.
• Coating 101 Course: An introductory level 1.5 day course covering basic science behind paper and board coating.

Additional Program Highlights include:

• Executive Panel: Learn directly from Industry CEOs as they share their perspectives on the paper industry's outlook.
• Largest PaperCon Exhibit Ever: Encompassing two ballrooms at the Sheraton New Orleans, 2012 is the largest exhibit in the event's history..
• Young Professionals Program: Organized with the help of PIMA, these sessions are designed for pending paper science graduates and professionals new to the industry.

Learn more about PaperCon.

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The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 14-17 in Savannah, Georgia, has announced the Call for Papers. PEERS is the perfect forum for paper industry professionals both to acquire practical operating insights and to network with industry peers in technical sessions, tutorials, round tables, new technology sessions and workshops.

Topics suggested for the 2012 technical program are as follows:

• Fiber and Pulping
• Mill Operations and Engineering
• Steam and Power
•  Recycling
• Environmental Management and Regulation
• Sustainability

Abstracts on other topics are welcome.

Learn more.

Authors interested in presenting a paper should upload their extended abstract to TAPPI's Speaker Management System by March 9, 2012.

Authors will be notified of acceptance by April 20, 2012 and must provide a full text manuscript by July 20, 2012.

For more information please contact Craig McKinney, TAPPI Program Manager at +1.770.209.7294

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An Invitation to Present has been announced for TAPPI's 2012 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC), October 17-19, 2012 in Savannah, Georgia.

IBBC will focus on technical advancements and commercialization of bioconversion technologies that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure and will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address:

• Feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass
• Bioelectricity using combined heat and power (CHP)
• Bioconversion technologies for wood and biomass
• Production of chemicals and transportation fuels from wood and biomass
• Policies and incentives for bioconversion projects

Presentations are sought in the following areas:

Advances in Technology: strong technical papers with a focus on presenting new findings

•  Biomass Supply & Demand
•  Advances in Conversion Pathways
•  Biomass Harvesting & Preparation
•  Advances in Bioproducts

Commercialization Activities: case studies and updates from pilot scale, commercial, and pre-commercial operations

• Biorefineries
• Repurposing the Traditional Pulp and Paper Mill
• Harvesting and Preparation
• Technical Economic Analyses
• Commercial Collaborations for Enabling Technologies
• Project Deployment Issues

Impacts of Policies and Incentives: analysis of existing or proposed bioconversion policies at State, Provincial or Federal levels

• · Public policy proposals
• · Pulp/paper incentives that support bioconversion progress
• · Assessing common ground between pulp/paper and agricultural bioconversion policies

Limited space is available for poster presentations.

Abstract Submission Information: Authors interesting in presenting a paper should upload their abstract to the TAPPI's Speaker Management System.

Abstract Requirements: Abstracts should be no more than 200 words.

Submission Deadline: March 9, 2012

Presentations Deadline: September 17, 2012

Authors will be notified of acceptance by April 20, 2012.

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Blackwell Handbook of Strategic Management

Edited by Michael A. hit, R. Edward Freeman and Jeffrey S. Harrison

In this major reference work, top scholars in the field of strategic management present major ideas and theories in the field drawing on their own research and special expertise. Offers complete coverage of the field of strategic management. Incorporates new ideas on strategy topics from leading scholars in the field. Edited by three of the World's leading management academics. Blackwell Handbook of Strategic Management

Product code: 10STRATEGIC
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Format: Hardcover

Member Price: $52.00

Non-Member Price: $59.00

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 The 24th Pulp and Paper Reliability and Maintenance Conference will be held March 12-15, 2012 in Raleigh, NC. The goal of this conference is to continue to be the marketplace for Reliability and Maintenance solutions for the pulp and paper industry. And it promises to provide an arsenal of improvement solutions to help your plant improve financial performance and survive long term.

Since its inception in 1986, the Pulp and Paper Reliability and Maintenance Conference has developed a devoted following of Reliability and Maintenance professionals representing Operations, Maintenance, Stores and Engineering. Over 400 speakers have shared their knowledge and experiences along with over 3,000 conference delegates.

Learn more about this conference and register to attend at the TAPPI conference page.

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Learn the Critical Leadership & Management Skills To Take Your Job to that Next Level at the Foundations of Leadership Excellence Course

Foundations of Leadership Excellence is a course focused on the fundamentals of leadership & management skills for emerging leaders, high-potentials, and area operating managers and other technical professionals. This course will be held March 28-31, 2012 at the University of Memphis campus, in Memphis, Tennessee, and is being co-produced by TAPPI and the University of Memphis.

Participants will develop personal leadership skills through the use of influence. They will learn to impact organizations from a 360 degree perspective and how to address the challenges of team building, accountability, performance management and other critical factors of organizational success.

Learn more at the TAPPI website page.

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